Coenobita brevimanus
Common name: Indo or Indonesian crab
Latin Origins: brevi = short or small, manis = hand
Distribution: From Zanzibar to Tahiti and the Tuamotu Islands, but not known from the East Africa mainland (Alcock, 1905; Holthuis, 1953; Yaldwyn and Wodzicki, 1979; Lewinsohn, 1982) (Burggren, W. and McMahon, B. 1998 p. 14)
Habitat: C. brevimanus is rarely near the shore, often found in grassy areas and rain forest. They are scavenger feeders and omnivorous (will eat anything). Fills shell with fresh or brackish water; mostly nocturnal (ibid, p. 383
Ecology: Nocturnal, supratidal, terrestrial Shelters under logs and litter during the day
Characteristics: The large pincher is much larger by contrast to the small pincher than in most species. It is also more bulbous in shape. The eye stalks are round and often dark to black. The body becomes wider. Brevimanus seems to be a shy but docile species.
Reference: Burggren, W. and McMahon, B. (1998) Biology of the Land Crabs. Cambridge: 1988. Octavo, dustwrapper, 479 pp., illustrations
